Union College (NY) (UC)

Union College puts an interdisciplinary lens on the liberal arts, giving students the freedom to combine majors and minors across multiple departments, both in STEM and the humanities. “Union has so many opportunities, and many pathways to access them,” says one student. Take, for instance, the trimester structure, where some students suggest that because they take three courses every ten weeks, they can “be more nimble and pivot majors more quickly.” The majority of students complete an internship and/or faculty-mentored research, and “professors emphasize teaching quality equally to research at Union, which makes for a great classroom environment.” Overall, smaller class sizes “make it so that actual conversations can be had…that are beneficial for the whole class.” Informed critical thinking is an end goal, beginning with the way faculty are “really engaged in the academic discourse and work to bring the classroom up to speed,” through the way in which they “give us the resources to keep on learning the subject outside the classroom.” This explains the popularity of Steinmetz Day, an all-campus event in which students showcase their work: “everyone watches their peers’ research presentations and talks.” This commitment and follow-through with the liberal arts “not only prepares you professionally,…but gives you a well-rounded understanding of the real world and how to identify patterns, understand them, and how that applies in all disciplines of life.”

Union College is home to a group of people who are “super enthusiastic and motivated scholastically.” They are a “thoughtful and welcoming” crowd that is “encouraged to develop their leadership skills while diving into what they are passionate about.” There is “a wide variety of interests and it’s fairly easy to find people who share your niche.” Due to the size, some say “it’s a rare moment when you walk into a room and see someone you don’t recognize,” but the proximity “allows for plenty of interaction during the academic week and the weekends.” One student adds, “I’m always able to spot a friendly face on campus and it’s a really pleasant environment.” There are sizable international and athlete contingents, and students enjoy “having friends from all groups because it is such a small school.” Overall, students keep coming back to the sense of “union” itself, finding that their school is indeed a place for “constantly supporting each other to do better and still [having] the most fun while making meaningful change.”

A few exceptions and exemptions aside, students live on campus for their entire time at Union. Accordingly, there is a focus on the residential experience, with “very good housing selections,” all of which are “within walking distance and close to your classes.” Every student also belongs to one of seven Minerva Houses, which act as academic and social centers for their members; one student says that “being involved in my Minerva or attending other Minerva events” is a highlight of their time at Union. Greek life is popular, and while some people “do party on the weekends,” there are “a lot of people [who] find other ways to have fun with their friends,” such as reserving common spaces for movie or game nights. As for activities, “There are so many clubs to be involved in it is hard to keep count, as one student adds, “we get a daily email and everything.” Many also make the most of the location, like how the Outing Club “runs near-weekly hikes to the wonderful natural areas within a few hours of our campus, such as the Catskills and Adirondacks.” Finally, student organizations have an “all-comers” policy that allows everyone to participate. These options work hand-in-hand to ensure there are “constant activities running to support the student body’s interest.”